*Members of Jimmy Smyth’s family Peter, Brighid and Patricia at the launch of a book in his honour with Donie Nealon and Michael Slattery. Photograph: Joe Buckley
THEY TRAVELLED FROM near and far to pay tribute to Jimmy Smyth, a true hurling man.
The Temple Gate Hotel in Ennis was the venue for the launch of Ollie Byrnes’ twelfth publication, his tenth on hurling and the first which focused exclusively on a single player, that being the giant from Ruan, Jimmy Smyth.
Jimmy lined out for Clare on 146 occasions between 1948 and 1967, he was named at right corner forward on the Team of the Century announced in 1984 and in the same spot for the Munster hurling Team of the Millennium, he won an Oireachtas Cup with Clare in 1954.
When the Railway Cup was at its pomp, he collected eight interprovincial medals while with his native Ruan he won Clare SHC titles in 1948, 1951, 1959, 1960 and 1962. During his time at St Flannan’s College in the 1940s, he took home three Harty Cup and All-Ireland Colleges medals. Post-playing, he became President of Clare GAA.
On Tuesday last for the launch, some of the fiercest rivalries were put aside when Blues and Magpies embraced, the Ruan folk made sure to be close to the microphones keen to soak up every word on their greatest hurler while the Townies took up residence at the back of the room with O’Callaghans Mills, Clooney/Quin, Kilnamona, Tulla, Kilkee, Clondegad and Doora/Barefield dotted around the room.
RTÉ’s Marty Morrissey was MC on the night with Tipperary’s Donie Nealon and Joe Keane from Kilnamona among the speakers, Clarecastle’s Michael Slattery gave a lengthy contribution with author Byrnes and Clare All-Ireland winner from 1995, Cyril Lyons from Ruan also addressing the crowd.
Jimmy Smyth: A Hurling Life is on sale now in local bookshops.
